Hoodia supplements are gaining popularity as an herbal weight loss aid. Although the “satisfied customer” testimonials sound appealing, infomercials are often misleading. Worse, medical experts warn that using Hoodia can lead to unpleasant and harmful side effects. Find out the truth behind the Hoodia hype...

Holiday overeating can leave you entering the New Year weighed down by uncomfortable reminders of all the delicious foods you've devoured. It's no surprise that losing weight is the #1 New Year's resolution for adults. And most of us want fast results, which makes crash diets and diet pills popular in January.

Among the newest quick fixes is Hoodia gordonii.

The Truth About Herbs

Heavily promoted herbal weight loss products include bitter orange, Hoodia, chitosan, guar gum and L-carnitine. All are available over-the-counter at health food stores and pharmacies. And all promise fast and "easy" weight loss.

Check with your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you're already on prescription medications.

Hoodia's HistoryHoodia gordonii is a rare cactus-like plant with strong-smelling, flesh-colored flowers. It grows wild in the high deserts of the Kalahari, on the border between South Africa and Namibia.

It belongs to a family of plants known as "stem succulents," also described as "Cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family.

According to folklore, as well as Hoodia's marketing literature, this "natural appetite suppressant" helped indigenous tribes make long treks through the desert with little food.

The Kalahari Bushmen allegedly chewed the stalks to curb appetite, increase endurance and satisfy thirst when food was scarce on long hunting expeditions.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa conducted a study in the 1960s in which rats fed with Hoodia lost weight but remained healthy.

However, recent research to confirm this claim is scant. In fact, there have been no published clinical trials to establish a safe or effective dose of Hoodia gordonii in humans.

Experts estimate that a person would need to consume 3,000 to 4,000 milligrams per day of powder made from Hoodia gordonii roots and stems to trigger any effect.

Hoodia's DownsidesResearchers from Boston and Harvard universities advised doctors to dissuade patients from using any products containing ephedra, spirulina, guar gum, or chitosan in a paper recently published in the journal American Family Physician.

Medical experts also warn that Hoodia supplements may contain ingredients such as bitter orange and caffeine, which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure and cause nervousness and sleeplessness.

The truth is, no food will make weight “melt” away. Instead, medical experts recommend daily exercise and sensible eating. The unfortunate side effects of extreme fad diets, including herbal pills such as Hoodia, may include hair loss. This occurs when you consume too few calories or too little protein and lack certain vitamins.

Weight Loss: A Marathon, Not a SprintSince two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, weight loss is a year-round focus for many. Whatever your health goals, medical experts recommend making lifestyle and diet change gradually, giving your body time to adapt.

Change one thing at a time. Altering too many behaviors requires a lot of energy and sets you up to fail.

Think of healthy, balanced living and weight control as a ladder: You climb toward success as you make gradual lifestyle changes that you can follow for the rest of your life.

Research shows permanent changes in eating and physical activity – like moderating portion sizes, eating a variety of foods and exercising regularly – are the key to long-term weight control.

What's Your Supplement IQ?You know that taking calcium supplements can help build strong bones when you don't eat enough dairy foods, but do you really know all that you should about supplements? Beyond the world of basic nutrition, there's an entirely different solar system of weird, wacky and wonderful facts about vitamins, minerals and herbs. Here's your chance to find out how much you know: Test your IQ with this supplement quiz.